Welcome to St. Gertrude
St. Gertrude Church overlooks the Kiskiminetas River on the border of northern Westmoreland and southern Armstrong Counties. It is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, and is a partner parish with Christ the King Church in Leechburg. Our parish continues the rich history of Catholic faith in the Vandergrift area that dates back more than 100 years. It was in August 1885, when the first pastor was sent from Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, to serve the church, which was originally located in Apollo. The parish continues to be served by the priests from Saint Vincent to this day. The small congregation of Catholics moved from Apollo to Vandergrift becoming St. Gertrude Church in 1898. As the parish family grew with the town, the need for a new church was apparent. Our present building was completed at a cost of $60,000. The late Bishop Regis Canevin, bishop of Pittsburgh, blessed the church on March 11, 1911.
Mission Statement
We, the parish community of St. Gertrude Parish in Vandergrift, Pa., are proud of our long tradition of family, faith and fellowship. Called into Christ as priest, prophet and king, by our baptism, we seek to strengthen and deepen our love of him and one another. We are committed to “building up the body of Christ: through word, worship, evangelization, leadership, service, stewardship and community. May that commitment extend to all parishioners from birth to eternity, to all we are called to service, and to all we seek and welcome into our parish community. For we are each called to be the light of the world.
Join Our Family
We are an active faith community of just over 600 households, and we strive to deepen the faith and to broaden the vision of the church for all parishioners. Since Christ, present in the celebration of the word and sacrament, is the source and summit of our faith, our celebration of the liturgy is the life blood of our parish.
To join our family, please complete the new member registration form, or for more information about parish membership, please contact us.
Sacraments
Parishioners of St. Gertrude can participate in all three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation — when they reach the appropriate age and/or have participated in sacramental preparation. Parishioners can partake in the celebration of the Eucharist at every Mass, and can participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m., or by appointment.
Parishioners of St. Gertrude can celebrate the sacrament of marriage in the church by contacting the parish office, and reception of Anointing of the Sick can be scheduled as well. Any parishioner interested in exploring vocations can do so through the Diocese of Greensburg.
Formation
St. Gertrude Parish offers multiple forms of religious education through the church. School-age children in kindergarten through fifth grade can participate in formal religious education classes, which teach them about their faith and prepare them to received the sacraments. Older students in grades six through eight receive religious education in a youth group setting. Children, ages 5 through 12, are invited to participate in Children’s Liturgy of the Word, an age-specific formation program offered during 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. Non-Catholics who want to enter the church are invited to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) program.
Parish Life
The parish of St. Gertrude has an active and vibrant parish community. Parishioners can fill liturgical and music ministry roles, serve on leadership councils, and join a number of organizations for all ages and genders.